JoAnn's Toy Store

[joann]

Gregg, I need help with this. I have been working on the for a couple hours and have gotten nowhere.
I can go to PS and use a layer mask and get a reasonable improvement but that is not what we are after here.
I did start out the SHN and went downhill from there.
JoAnn H

[ggroess]

The goal is to inject some color into the shadow areas.   The inverted mask makes all the shadows the only areas where adjustment can happen.  I have 2 examples.  The L channel mask shot3.  and the G Channel mask Shot 5.  Both have been inverted...I have added a light blur to the G channel mask.  The G channel mask curve is also shown shot4.

The shadow areas take a larger adjustment to show any change.  The trouble is that the change effects the entire image...this is another example where the interactive adjustment of the mask helps you figure out how far to go...

Use the compare button also...
I started by setting SHN and then using our old friend the Lizard tail curve to open the shadows a bit.  If you go to far you create a solarized look and that is not good.  Use the saturation slider in LAB to add enough color to make the background better but try to keep it reasonable...this is a fairly subtle adjustment actually...Protect the highlights and the mid-tones...

Greg